Reduction of Adolescent Drug Abuse Through Post-Hypnotic Cue Association

Abstract

Six adolescents who were involved in a variety of drug misuse were self-referrals for treatment because they were anxious and scared due to adverse drug reactions. All were females ranging in age from 14 to 16 years; 4 were Indian-Metis, 2 were white. Treatment consisted of an initial comprehensive psychological examination and orientation interview, three intensive sessions of hypnosis where the girls practiced and learned to develop cue association, and finally a procedure to develop cue association in situations where the girls felt tense, anxious, and prone to drug misuse. Total number of sessions ranged from 6 to 15 and a follow-up interview was conducted 6 months after this point. In all cases it was found that drug misuse, as determined by interviews with the subjects and with significant people in their environment, had virtually stopped, although there was some mild use of alcohol.